CHAPTER 42
Taejin exhaled slowly, choosing his words with care.
"Your brother… might have reached his limit. He passed out afterward."
He hesitated before continuing.
"Muwon ordered for him to be put in chains."
Yuhyun lowered his head, his hair falling to shield his face. For a while, he said nothing. Dohyun and Taejin exchanged a glance, both unsettled by the heavy silence.
Then, without warning, tears slid down Yuhyun's cheeks, dropping onto the blanket pooled in his lap. His voice, when it finally came, cracked with sorrow.
"It's best… if Sihyun and I leave the palace,"
he whispered, his hands trembling as he clutched the fabric tighter.
"Somewhere far away… so he won't harm anyone else."
Dohyun's chest tightened. He leaned forward quickly.
"But Yuhyun—what about Taeyang?"
Yuhyun's lips trembled as he lifted his tear-filled eyes to meet Dohyun's.
"Sihyun hurt Muwon. He hurt Taejin. Then he hurt me."
His voice broke further, trembling as though the words themselves cut him apart.
"You don't think… he'll hurt Taeyang too?"
The chamber fell silent. Dohyun's mouth opened, but no answer came. He shut it again, his throat dry, unable to deny the possibility. Taejin turned his gaze away, his jaw tight, the weight of Yuhyun's question pressing heavily on them both.
Yuhyun wiped at his tears with the back of his hand, his voice low but steady this time.
"It's best… I take Sihyun away from here."
The words hit the air like a final verdict.
Taejin's brows furrowed. He leaned forward, choosing his tone with care.
"And what about Sihyun? Don't you think… he'll hate the idea?"
The question struck deep. Yuhyun's eyes flashed with sudden emotion, and before he could stop himself, he yelled, his voice breaking:
"I don't care about Sihyun's idea!"
The room froze. Yuhyun's chest heaved, his outburst ringing against the chamber walls. Realizing what he had just done, his face fell in guilt. He quickly bowed his head, his voice trembling.
"I—I'm sorry, Taejin… I didn't mean to yell at you…"
Taejin's expression softened. Without hesitation, he slid closer and pulled Yuhyun gently into an embrace, mindful of his bandaged arm.
"It's okay,"
Taejin murmured against his ear, his voice calm and steady.
"I understand. You're just trying to protect everyone. That's who you are."
Yuhyun gripped Taejin's robe weakly, tears welling again. Taejin's hand rested reassuringly on his back as he continued,
"If you believe this is what's best… for Sihyun, and for everyone else… then I'll be here. You have my support."
The words broke Yuhyun's defenses completely. He buried his face into Taejin's shoulder, crying openly now. Taejin held him firmly, letting him release the weight he carried.
Dohyun, meanwhile, stood rigid at the side of the chamber. His jaw clenched, his arms crossed tightly as he watched the scene unfold. He didn't say a word, but his eyes revealed everything—he hated the idea, hated watching Yuhyun choose exile, hated the thought of letting Sihyun slip further away from them all.
The corridor was dimly lit, the torches burning low as Taejin and Dohyun walked side by side. They had just left Yuhyun to rest, the sound of his quiet sobs still lingering in their ears. For a long while, neither spoke.
Finally, Taejin glanced at Dohyun, noticing the storm brewing in his expression.
"You've been quiet ever since we left Yuhyun,"
Taejin said softly.
"What's the matter?"
Dohyun stopped walking. His jaw tightened, and when he finally spoke, his tone was sharp, edged with frustration.
"You really don't get it, do you?"
Taejin blinked at him, taken aback.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're all making things worse,"
Dohyun snapped.
"All this talk about keeping Sihyun away, about locking him in chains… Do you even see what that's doing to him?"
Taejin frowned.
"Dohyun—"
"No, listen,"
Dohyun cut him off harshly, his voice echoing against the stone walls.
"Sihyun is always uncontrollable, always flaring up, because you all keep trying to keep Taeyang from him. And you expect him not to lose his mind?!"
His hands curled into fists.
"I'm not sorry if Sihyun hurt you, or Muwon, or even Yuhyun. Maybe—just maybe—if he was allowed to be with his own son, none of this would be happening!"
Taejin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Dohyun…"
Dohyun's gaze burned with conviction now, his decision final.
"I'm going to bring Taeyang to see him."
The words struck Taejin like a blade. He froze, his breath caught in his throat. Then he burst out, voice rising with anger and fear,
"What?!"
"You heard me loud and clear,"
Dohyun said coldly, not backing down.
Taejin stepped forward, gripping Dohyun's arm despite the pain in his bandaged one. His eyes were fierce.
"This is a bad idea, Dohyun. A terrible one. You'll only make things worse—don't you see that?"
But Dohyun only pulled his arm free, his jaw set like stone, his mind already made up.
Dohyun turned sharply on his heel, his footsteps echoing as he started down the corridor.
"You're disobeying the King's order!"
Taejin's voice boomed after him, filled with anger and desperation.
"I don't care!"
Dohyun shot back without stopping.
Taejin's teeth clenched.
"If anything happens to Taeyang, I'll make sure you take full responsibility!"
"Whatever,"
Dohyun muttered coldly, still walking away.
Taejin's fists tightened at his sides.
"And what if Muwon finds out—"
"It doesn't matter!"
Dohyun snapped, cutting him off, his voice low but laced with defiance. He didn't even turn back.
The weight of silence fell between them. Taejin stood frozen for a long moment, chest rising and falling heavily. His every instinct screamed against this, screamed that they were crossing a line that could never be undone.
Yet… as he watched Dohyun's figure retreat further into the shadows of the corridor, something inside him faltered. With a long, reluctant sigh, Taejin finally started after him.
His expression was tight, his jaw set in conflict. He hated every step he took, hated the idea burning in Dohyun's mind—yet still, he followed.
Inside Taeyang's chamber, the boy slept soundly under the soft glow of the lantern light. Taejin lingered at the entrance, arms folded tightly against his chest, his bandaged arm aching as much as his unease.
Dohyun stepped in quietly, crouching beside the bed. He reached out, brushing Taeyang's hair from his forehead.
"Taeyang,"
he whispered gently,
"wake up."
The child stirred, blinking his eyes open. When his gaze landed on Dohyun, his face lit up.
"Uncle Dohyun!"
Taeyang exclaimed, throwing his small arms around Dohyun's neck. Dohyun chuckled softly and hugged him back, warmth flickering in his chest despite the dangerous weight of his actions.
Taeyang then spotted the tall figure at the door.
"Uncle Taejin!"
he called brightly, waving.
Taejin forced a smile, though his eyes darted sharply toward Dohyun with a glare that screamed I told you this was a bad idea.
Noticing the bandages, Taeyang tilted his head curiously.
"Uncle Taejin, what happened to your arm?"
Taejin hesitated for the briefest moment, then forced out,
"I… fell and broke it."
Taeyang's lips curled into a laugh.
"You're too old to be falling, Uncle Taejin!"
Dohyun burst into laughter too, clutching his stomach as he echoed,
"Too old to be falling!"
The child's giggles filled the room, but Taejin's face flushed red with frustration. His jaw tightened, his good hand twitching at his side as he resisted the overwhelming urge to march over and smack Dohyun across the head. Instead, he simply turned away with a muttered curse under his breath, his patience thinning with every second.